Karuma Wildlife Reserve is located near Murchison Falls National Park in the Kiryandongo area. Karuma Wildlife Reserve was first designated as a hunting area in 1962 and later upgraded to a reserve in 1964.
Covering about 675 square kilometers, Karuma Wildlife Reserve borders the 473-square-kilometer Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and the 3,877-square-kilometer Murchison Falls National Park.
Located south of the Victoria Nile, Karuma Wildlife Reserve is a lush conservation area with several water streams. It is mostly covered by Savannah grasslands, especially elephant grass.
Scattered throughout the reserve are small forests, which are remnants of past forest covers, made up of Savannah trees.
Wildlife Species
Karuma Wildlife Reserve is home to many Savannah wildlife species, most of which are also found in Murchison Falls National Park. Game drives and guided nature walks offer the best chances to see these animals.
The reserve is home to buffaloes, giraffes, elephants, Uganda kobs, and many other animals. Since hippos are aquatic, they are often seen near water sources.
Lions and leopards are rare but can sometimes be spotted. Some of these animals migrate from Murchison Falls National Park, which is an interesting feature of the reserve.
Primate Watching
The small forested areas in the reserve are also home to several primate species, including olive baboons, vervet monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys.
Birds in Karuma Wildlife Reserve
Birdwatchers will be amazed by the hundreds of bird species found in the reserve. Most of these birds live in the wooded areas. A walk through Karuma Wildlife Reserve allows visitors to see a wide variety of bird species.
If you are an avid birdwatcher, you may spot more than 300 species, which is over half of the total bird species recorded in the region.
Since birds migrate from Murchison Falls National Park and Budongo Forest, many bird species in Karuma are similar to those in nearby conservation areas.
Karuma Falls
One of the highlights of Karuma Wildlife Reserve, besides the wildlife and birds, is Karuma Falls, which gives the reserve its name. Many people, even those just passing by, stop to admire and take photos of the falls. There are several local legends about the falls. According to local beliefs, a traditional spirit named Karuma placed the rocks over which the waterfalls flow, giving the falls their name.
Karuma Falls is especially stunning during the rainy season when the water levels are higher. As the water rushes down the rocks, it creates a white, foam-like appearance, making the falls look like snow.
Community Visits
Visiting the local community is one of the most important activities in the area, especially since Kiryandongo is home to several refugee camps. Visitors can learn more about how people live and survive in these camps. Uganda is known for its hospitality, which is one reason it hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world.
Gulu town, a former rebel stronghold, is another nearby community that visitors can explore. A visit to Gulu offers insight into how the town has developed after more than two decades of conflict.
